Plot summary

While in Maardam to meet with clients, Antwerp-based ad copywriter Henry Martens runs into Paula Polanski, a former student of his when he taught English Literature as a substitute professor at City College in Kaalbringen for a term ten years ago. Perhaps spurred by recently having had their class reunion, Paula, now a documentary filmmaker with some renown, has decided to make a film about Vera Kall, someone else in her class at that time who went missing the night of their graduation party. Although Vera was never found, Vera's father, Jacob Kall, was charged with her murder three weeks later, some of the evidence that led to his conviction being systemic physical abuse that he inflicted on her over the course of her life. Serving a life sentence, Jacob still professes his innocence. Wanting the film to be homage to Vera, who was a mystery to all of her classmates beyond most of the males wanting to have dated her, Paula wants to interview as many people in Vera's life especially at that time, including Henry. Initially resisting in not wanting to dredge up old arguably painful memories, Henry eventually agrees to the interview in having some unexpected free time when some plans he and his common law wife Clara fall through at the last minute. In staying with Paula at her parents' summer house while in Kaalbringen for those few days, Henry gets pulled into many other aspects of the documentary that he wasn't expecting. As such, he begins to feel that Paula may have some ulterior motives in her actions around the film.—Huggo